Graduate still hopeful to celebrate milestone despite Covid-19 lockdown

THOUSANDS of students throughout the country looked forward to celebrating the huge milestone of graduating before news of the Covid-19 breakout stood in the way of their hopes.

Olwethu Mthembu is one such student who had finally completed her bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) last year. This month she would’ve proudly walked on the stage in her black gown to be officially capped and handed her degree certificate at a prestigious graduation ceremony.

“The university informed us that the graduation ceremony would be cancelled this year and that we’d be given a date to fetch our certificates. This came as both a shock and a disappointment to me because I had expected that it would at least be postponed till further notice. Graduation is the main event that every student looks forward to. It’s what makes all the blood, sweat and tears worth it,” said a disappointed Olwethu, who had been anticipating her parents’ jovial applause in the crowds at the ceremony upon receiving her hard earned qualification.

In a statement, UKZN said, “After due consideration of input from the university’s Covid-19 team of experts and other key stakeholders, a decision was taken to cancel the April graduation ceremony. The university regrets the inconvenience caused, but felt it important to minimise the risks associated with such a large gathering and exposure to individuals who may have been exposed to the coronavirus. We are exploring other options to ensure that graduates receive their qualifications and other related documents by the end of April.”

The 21-year-old described her student life as an uphill battle which demanded mental and emotional perseverance. “University was very different from high school and I needed to put in a lot of work to get good marks. My third year was the toughest because we were being prepared to become real scientists.”

The future biological scientist has her fingers crossed that the university’s decision will be reconsidered and that she will be able to graduate later in the year. She is also looking forward to beginning her career post-lockdown. “I chose science because I’m intrigued by how living organisms function. Biology is the ‘language of life’ and I want to be fluent in it because it is through this knowledge that we are able help these components of life stay healthy and happy,” said the Yellowwood Park resident.

Although saddened by the uncertainty of her graduation, Olwethu is excited about what the future has in store for her once life returns back to normal. “At the end of the day, life is what you make of it. And I’m going for my dreams no matter what.”